plate no. 2895

Man Reading

Eduard von Gebhardt, 1922

oilRealismportraitfigureportraitbookbeardclothingreading

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing facial details and rendering textures like fur and paper. It also provides practice in using a limited color palette to create a cohesive and atmospheric artwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the book.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Start building up the darker areas, paying attention to the shadows on the face, clothing, and book.
step 04
Add the mid-tones, blending them into the shadows to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Introduce the highlights, focusing on areas where light is directly hitting the subject.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add texture to the beard, fur collar, and book using dry brush techniques.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Achieve the skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Use ivory black sparingly to darken shadows. Mix yellow ochre with white for highlights on the book and fur.

techniques